Gingerbread play dough
Skills
Use gingerbread play dough for the ultimate hands-on, sensory fine-motor building experience for kids.
You'll Need
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1 TBSP ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground clove
- 2 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 cup water
Learning Stages
By Becca Ross
Kindergarten & First Grade Teacher
We change out our play dough on a monthly basis in my classroom. Apple pie and pumpkin spice play dough started out the year. Gingerbread play dough will be next in the rotation. I love changing out the cookie cutters and adding a few thematic books to the center as well. The obvious choice for books to accompany the gingerbread play dough and cookie cutters will be a few classic gingerbread stories.
How to make gingerbread play dough
- In a medium saucepan, stir together dry ingredients. Add the water and oil. Stir together.
- Cook the mixture over low-medium heat until a thick dough forms. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead until smooth. For home use, a single batch is fine. For a classroom, I usually make a double batch.
- Add cookie cutters and rolling pins to make a gingerbread bakery! Decorations for the gingerbread men can be whole cloves and whole allspice.
Gingerbread books for further inspiration
- Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett
- The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst
- Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers by Lisa Campbell Ernst
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This holiday, use favorite stories and themes to teach children how to compare and contrast.
